| Previous Section | Home Page |
EDUCATION
Grant-maintained Schools
Mr. Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the level of capital spending per pupil per annum at constant prices at (a) grant-maintained and (b) local authority schools in each of the last 10 years.
Mr. Robin Squire: The latest available information on outturn expenditure and pupil numbers implies per capita expenditure on grant- maintained, voluntary aided and local authority schools as in the table. The figures are in 1993 94 prices.
|Grant maintained|Local authority |Voluntary aided
|schools |schools |schools
|£ |£ |£
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1984-85 |- |86.6 |49.3
1985-86 |- |88.6 |59.0
1986-87 |- |95.0 |50.0
1987-88 |- |102.4 |55.7
1988-89 |- |127.1 |70.4
1989-90 |157.2 |144.7 |88.1
1990-91 |203.4 |125.9 |90.5
1991-92 |104.3 |122.1 |84.5
1992-93 |108.3 |117.6 |102.1
1993-94 |157.6 |N/A |100.7
(1) It is not possible to make a direct comparison between per pupil expenditure at
local authority, voluntary aided and grant maintained schools because of the
differences in the capital spending regimes under which the three types of school
operate. For example, grant-maintained and voluntary schools are liable to VAT
whereas local authority schools are outside the scope of VAT.
Physical Education
Mr. Pendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many submissions were made to the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority on its consultation paper on the national curriculum proposals at key stage 4; how many expressed a view on physical education; and how many submissions expressed a view on the imposition of compulsory participation in competitive team games, indicating the numbers of (i) those in favour and (ii) those against.
Mr. Forth: The total number of written responses on the proposals for physical education was 4,072, of which 173 agreed that it should be compulsory for 14 to 16-year-old pupils to be taught a competitive game, while 529 disagreed. In weighing all the responses, including those views expressed at conferences, and in reaffirming the proposal, the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority took the view that pupils' and schools' choices were not unduly restricted, that it ensured progression throughout compulsory schooling in a key activity, and that it reflected existing practice in most schools. The total number of responses on the national curriculum proposals at key stage 4 is not available.
Disabled Students' Awards
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what has been the number of disabled students' awards in each of the last three years; and what has been the cost in each year.
Mr. Boswell: The number and gross value of disabled students' allowances made by local education authorities in England and Wales as part of mandatory awards in the academic years 1990 91, 1991 92 and 1992 93--the latest year for which figures are available--are shown in the table:
Number<1> and gross value of disabled students' allowances-
England and Wales: 1990-91 to 1992-93
|Number of |Gross value of
|allowances |allowances
Academic year |£ million
------------------------------------------------------------
1990-91<2> |640 |0.9
1991-92 |1,430 |2.0
1992-93 |2,490 |3.7
<1> The table shows the number of awards, not the number of
students. Students can receive more than one type of
disabled students' allowance.
<2> Data for 1990-91 are incomplete and are not directly
comparable with the two later years.
South Tyneside College
Mr. Mandelson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the salary of the chief executive of South Tyneside college.
Mr. Boswell: This information is not collected by the Department. The Further Education Funding Council guidelines on accounting policies recommend that colleges should disclose the emoluments of the principal and other senior postholders in their accounts, which are publicly available.
Column 161
Child Maintenance
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what considerations led to the inclusion of payments for child maintenance ordered by the courts under the Children Act 1975 or the Children Act 1989 as being eligible for deduction against gross income when calculating residual income for mandatory grant assessment purposes and the exclusion of payments for child maintenance made under the Child Support Act 1991;
(2) how many parents benefit from the provision in the Education (Mandatory Awards) (No. 2) Regulations 1993 enabling the deduction from gross income of child maintenance payments ordered in the courts in order to calculate residual income for grant purposes.
Mr. Boswell: I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
SCOTLAND
A8
Mr. David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the A8 between Baillieston and Newhouse to be upgraded to motorway standard; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The line orders and compulsory purchase order for the section of the M8 motorway between Baillieston and Newhouse were published in November 1993 and May 1994, respectively. Those proposals are being taken forward in phases and, subject to the satisfactory completion of statutory procedures and the availability of finance, it is provisionally planned that the first of these, from Drumpark junction to Chapelhall, will start between April 1995 and March 1997.
Sheep Annual Premium
Sir David Steel: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for what reasons Scottish farmers have not yet been paid the sheep annual premium payments for this year that are due to them.
Mr. Lang: I refer the right hon. Member to the answers that my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary responsible for agriculture and the environment gave to the hon. Member for Angus, East (Mr. Welsh) on 24 November, Official Report , column 343.
Factory Units, Glasgow
Mr. David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many factory units Glasgow development agency has constructed since its inception.
Mr. Stewart: Details of the provision of industrial premises by local enterprise companies is a matter for Scottish Enterprise and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.
Secret Files
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) top secret and (b) secret files his Department holds.
Column 162
Mr. Lang [holding answer 30 November 1994]: The most recent estimates show that there are around 35 top secret and around 800 secret paper files held within my Department. That is less than 0.06 per cent. of all paper files currently held.
Labour Statistics
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the reduction in the number of persons by grade and gender employed by his Department and associated offices and agencies, nationally and regionally over the next three years, as a result of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget statement of 29 November, indicating which branch, agency and region will be affected and stating his estimate of the number of job losses in each year which will be by (a) natural wastage, (b) voluntary redundancy and (c) compulsory redundancy; and what estimate he has made of the yearly total of savings in wages and associated costs as a result of these reductions in each Department, branch and agency.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 5 December 1994]: The information requested is not yet available. My Department's staffing plans for 1995 96, 1996 97 and 1997 98 will be set out in the 1995 departmental report, to be published in early March 1995.
The Government's aim has been, and will continue to be, that reductions in the size of the civil service should as far as possible be achieved without compulsory redundancies.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Public Expenditure
Mr. Carrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the allocation to individual programmes in Northern Ireland of the public expenditure totals announced on 29 November.
Sir Patrick Mayhew: In his unified Budget statement on 29 November, my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced total public expenditure planning figures for the Northern Ireland programme. I have now decided on the allocations to individual programmes as shown in the following table. Copies of a more detailed statement have been placed in the Library. Those allocations reflect my assessment of how best to distribute the Northern Ireland public expenditure totals in response to local needs and circumstances.
Programme
£ million
|1995-96|1996-97|1997-98
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern Ireland Office:
Law, Order, Protective and Miscellaneous Services |889 |890 |880
Northern Ireland Departments:
Northern Ireland Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Services and Support |137 |140 |140
Industry, Trade and Employment |460 |440 |440
Energy |56 |40 |30
Roads and Transport |176 |180 |180
Housing |246 | 250 |260
Environmental and Miscellaneous Services |231 |220 |220
Law, Order and Protective Services (Fire Service) |41 |40 |40
Education, Arts and Libraries |1,354 |1,390 |1,410
Health and Personal Social Services |1,510 |1,550 |1,580
Social Security Administration |161 |160 |160
Other Public Services |61 |60 |60
NI Block (excluding Social Security Benefits) |5,320 |5,360 |5,390
Social Security Benefits |2,224 |2,330 |2,450
NI Block |7,544 |7,690 |7,840
National Agriculture and Fisheries Support |172 |180 |190
NI Programme |7,716 |7,880 |8,020
Notes:
(1) Figures are rounded to nearest £1 million in 1995-96 and to nearest £10 million in 1996-97 and
1997-98.
(2) The figures for 1995-96 will form the basis for preparation by Northern Ireland Departments and the
Northern Ireland Office of Main Estimates for the coming year. These will be presented to Parliament in
due course.
National Insurance Numbers
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what undertaking his Department gave to the Data Protection Registrar that the national insurance number would be restricted to tax and benefit-related purposes; if he has been able to keep to that undertaking; what plans he has to introduce legislation to allow the use of the number by the private sector in the Province; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Moss: The Data Protection Registrar has been advised that it is departmental policy to restrict use of the national insurance number to national insurance, tax and social security benefit related purposes. As to the application of that policy, a private sector organisation has requested permission to use the national insurance number for personal injuries claims purposes and this is being considered within the terms of the policy. There are no plans to introduce legislation to allow the use of the national insurance number by the private sector.
Urban Development Grants
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many urban development grants have been approved in each of the district council areas by the International Fund for Ireland since this fund commenced operations in Northern Ireland.
Sir John Wheeler: The International Fund for Ireland is administered by an independent board appointed jointly by the two Governments. All decisions on disbursements by the fund are a matter for that board and questions regarding disbursements should be directed to the fund's chairman, Mr. William T. McCarter, PO Box 2000,
Column 164
Belfast, BT4 3SA. I understand, however, that the fund provides full details of all offers of assistances in its annual reports, copies of which are available in the Library. In addition, I have arranged for a copy of the right hon. Gentleman's inquiry to be forwarded to the chairman of the fund.Rate Collection Agencies
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultations took place in respect of the recommendations to close eight regional rate collection agencies and to centralise housing benefit in Belfast; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Moss: Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Rate Collection Agency under its chief executive, Mr. D. W. Gallagher. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from D. W. Gallagher to Mr. Eddie McGrady, dated 6 December 1994:
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to your Question about consultations in respect of the
recommendations to close 8 local Rate Collection offices and to centralise Housing Benefit in Belfast.
The recommendations were drawn up after widespread consultation within the management tiers of the RCA. The fact that they became public knowledge very quickly after they had been made known more widely to Agency staff precluded any outside consultation. Since the news became public, there have been representations from Members of Parliament, District Council Officers, and members of the public.
Criminal Injuries Compensation
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much in criminal injuries compensation has been paid to victims of IRA disciplinary procedures in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years and 1994 to date.
Sir John Wheeler: Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Compensation Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Denis Stanley. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from D. A. Stanley to Mr. Austin Mitchell, dated 6 December 1994:
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to your recent Question about criminal injuries compensation in Northern Ireland.
The Compensation Agency has no way of ascertaining the motives of a victim's assailants until the outcome of any subsequent prosecution is known. As there would have to be a high degree of speculation in respect of the many cases where the assailants are unknown or where no prosecution has taken place, the Agency could not accurately compile the information you seek.
I am sorry that I cannot be more helpful.
Security Expenditure
Ms Mowlam: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide details of the reduction in expenditure on law, order and protective services from the £56,963,966 outturn for the year 1993 94 to the forecast of £39,709,000 for the year 1994 95.
Sir John Wheeler: The forecast figure for 1994 95 of £39,709,000 under law, order and protective services referred only to expenditure on fire services which is borne on the Northern Ireland consolidated fund. The
Column 165
outturn figure for 1993 94 was £38,947,000. Expenditure on other law, order and protective services-- for example, police and prisons--is borne on the United Kingdom consolidated fund. The outturn figure used in the Northern Ireland financial statement includes prior year fire service cash issues from the Northern Ireland consolidated fund and, incorrectly, cash issues for water and sewerage. The classifications used in the Northern Ireland financial statement are currently under review.Social Security Expenditure
Ms Mowlam: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide further details on the difference between his Department's forecast for social security expenditure of £279,751,000 during the year 1993 94 and the official outturn of £1,350,527,594.
Sir John Wheeler: The figures in the question are taken from the Northern Ireland financial statement, which is an abstract based on cash issues from the Northern Ireland consolidated fund. There were inconsistencies in the classification of social security and Social Security Agency expenditure in table IV of the statement, and these resulted in the discrepancies referred to. The classifications used are currently under review. The figures for cash issues for social security and Social Security Agency expenditure, taken together, were however correct.
Disabled People
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy to establish a commission on disability with enforcement powers and the capacity to make compensation payments for disabled people who have been discriminated against; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Moss: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement made by the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People, 24 November, Official Report, columns 740 44. Detailed proposals will be contained in a policy statement to be published, in addition to a Bill, in the near future. It is the Government's intention that policy and legislation in Northern Ireland will be consistent with that elsewhere in the United Kingdom.
Trials
Mr. Peter Thurnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what further progress has been made to reduce delays in coming to trial in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Patrick Mayhew: The arrangements we have put in place in recent years to reduce delays are yielding clear benefits, although we must and will continue to seek further ways of attacking the problem.
I set out on 23 November last year, in reply to a question from the hon. Member for Belfast, South, (Rev. Martin Smyth) Official Report, columns 19 20, the results of the first year's operation of the scheme introduced in 1992 to reduce the time defendants spent on custody awaiting trial on indictment for scheduled cases. I also announced a reduction to 11 months in the overall target set by the scheme for cases to move from first remand to arraignment, the formal start of the trial, and its extension to non- scheduled cases tried on indictment.
Column 166
I can now report on the scheme's first two years of operation, up to 30 June 1994. Overall, 86 per cent. of defendants in custody awaiting trial in scheduled cases who had reached arraignment had met the overall reduced target of 11 months; and 95 per cent. of such defendants in non-scheduled cases did so. Figures for the average time taken to process scheduled cases show a substantial improvement since the introduction of the scheme. In 1991, the last full year before its introduction, average aggregated time from first remand to arraignment for defendants remanded in custody on scheduled charges was 44 weeks; in the two years ending 30 June 1994, the average for such cases in the scheme was 35 weeks, an improvement of 20 per cent. It is too early yet to present reliable comparative figures for non-scheduled cases.I believe that those results are much to the credit of the agencies which have operated the scheme, and we have decided to extend its life until at least the end of June next year.
The results do, however, also reflect the fact that there are a significant number of cases in Northern Ireland of a particularly complex nature, whose preparation is necessarily prolonged. Nevertheless I believe that it is important to explore all further means by which delay may be averted. My Department, in partnership with others more directly involved in the criminal justice process in Northern Ireland, is therefore investigating ways in which procedures may be further streamlined.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Welsh Health Promotion Authority
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Attorney-General on what grounds the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to proceed with prosecutions for fraud or embezzlement in respect of the Welsh health promotion authority.
The Attorney-General: The evidence was insufficient to justify criminal proceedings.
Extradition
Mr. Donald Anderson: To ask the Attorney-General on what occasions and for what purposes he has intervened with the Irish
Attorney-General about the conduct in respect of the extradition warrant in force in respect of Brendan Smyth.
The Attorney-General: I refer the hon. Member to the written answers I have given to the hon. Member for Thurrock (Mr. Mackinlay) on 21 November, Official Report , columns 37-38 , 25 November, Official Report , columns 388-89 and 28 November, Official Report , column 512 .
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Indonesia
Mr. Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when British Government Ministers have visited Indonesia since 1979; and on what dates.
Column 167
Mr. Goodlad: Since 1979, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers have made the following visits to Indonesia:
Name |Date --------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr. Blaker |September-October 1979 Secretary of State |January 1982 Mr. Renton |November 1985 Secretary of State |October 1986 Mr. Renton |December 1986 Lord Glenarthur |September 1987 Mr. Patten |November 1987 Lord Glenarthur |April 1989 Lord Brabazon |June 1990 Lord Caithness |April 1991 Mr. Goodlad |October 1992 Secretary of State |April 1993 Mr. Goodlad |April 1994
No central record is kept in the FCO of overseas travel by Ministers from other Government Departments.
Building Refurbishment
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will itemise the refurbishment works undertaken on buildings housing departmental staff in the last three years, indicating the costs involved and the nature of the refurbishments.
Mr. Goodlad: The information is as follows:
Foreign and Commonwealth Office main building (old public offices, Whitehall) Year |£ --------------------------------- 1991-92 |12,973,778 1992-93 |11,150,596 1993-94 |12,564,053
The above figures represent a series of contracts within a rolling programme. This is the first comprehensive restoration and refurbishment of this grade I listed building since 1875. On completion in March 1997 it will provide 25 per cent. more space, allowing leased buildings to be given up, thus reducing future running costs and improving operational efficiency.
- Hanslope Park, Buckinghamshire (i) Building 15 (workshops, technical stores, some offices) Year |£ ------------------------------ 1991-92 |137,882 1992-93 |2,122,575 1993-94 |322,527
This facility was originally erected in 1958. The expenditure listed here has been on re-roofing, structural repairs, replacement of all services and re-configuration of internal space.
(ii) Building 20 ( workshops, stores, some offices) Year |£ ------------------------ 1991-92 |77,297 1992-93 |340,204 1993-94 |25,852
This is a grade II 17th century listed building. This expenditure was for re-roofing, structural repairs and replacement of all services. The courtyard has also been roofed over to provide additional internal space.
Overseas Diplomatic Residences
Mrs. Clywd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the value of each overseas diplomatic residence owned by Her Majesty's Government.
Mr. Goodlad: The information requested will not be available until the systematic valuation of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's overseas estate is further advanced. This work, at present being planned, is in preparation for the introduction of revised Government accounting methods-- resource accounting--later in the 1990s.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cost of upkeep of each overseas diplomatic residence owned by Her Majesty's Government in each of the last three years.
Mr. Goodlad: The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cost of renting each overseas diplomatic residence not owned by Her Majesty's Government in each of the last three years.
Mr. Goodlad: The information requested is not immediately available. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as it has been obtained.
Vietnamese Boat People
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the allegations that Vietnamese boat people being returned form Hong Kong to Vietnam in September 1994 were sedated and placed in straitjackets.
Mr. Goodlad: To prevent injury to themselves and others, two Vietnamese migrants were sedated and placed in straitjackets before their repatriation from Hong Kong to Vietnam on 22 September 1994. This measure was based on a medical decision, taken after the two migrants had been hospitalised with self-inflicted injuries.
Immigration
Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance is issued to entry clearance officers at British overseas posts as to the gross weekly income sufficient for (a) a male spouse sponsor and (b) a female spouse sponsor, each with up to two children, to maintain a spouse applying to join his or her spouse in the United Kingdom without recourse to public funds; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry: Entry clearance officers are not given instructions on the gross weekly income necessary to meet the maintenance requirements of the immigration rules: each case is considered on its individual merits, having regard to the total financial resources available and likely to become available to the parties. These vary considerably from case to case. Entry clearance officers are further guided by the rulings of adjudicators, the tribunal and the higher courts.
Column 169
Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what social security, and other public financial assistance, is deemed public funds by entry clearance officers when considering applications by spouses to enter the United Kingdom for settlement with their spouse; what will be the effect of the Chancellor's Budget statement on the assessment of such public funds; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry: In line with the statement of changes in immigration rules laid before the House on 23 May 1994, the following are deemed public funds by entry clearance officers:
(a) housing under part III of the Housing Act 1985, part II of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 or part II of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988;
(b) income support, family credit, council tax benefit and housing benefit under Part VII of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992; and
(c) income support, family credit, and housing benefit under the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992.
This list was not altered by the Chancellor's Budget statement.
UN Year of Tolerance
Mr. Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for Her Majesty's Government to contribute to the United Nations year of tolerance in 1995.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: The Government have no plans at present to engage in specific activity to mark the United Nations year of tolerance in 1995. While we are content that non governmental organisations should play an active role in the activities of the year, it is not our policy, given heavy demands on public expenditure, to commit scarce resources to the marking of United Nations years dedicated to specific themes.
Zaire
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what contribution he has given to the UN Secretary General's report concerning security arrangements in the refugee camps in the Kivu region of Zaire; and if he will make a statement;
(2) whether he will give support to the UN Secretary General's proposed security force for the refugee camps in Kivu, Zaire.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: The President of the United Nations Security Council issued a statement on 30 November in response to the UN Secretary General's report on the refugee camps. The United Kingdom played a constructive role in the negotiation of that statement, which it fully supports. A copy has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
UNESCO
Mr. Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the changes in (a) administration and (b) policy in UNESCO since Britain ceased to be a member.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: Since the United Kingdom ceased to be a member in 1985, we have recognised that some welcome changes have taken place both in the organisation's administration and overall policy. This
Column 170
includes budgetary reform and the carrying out of good work in its programme sectors. But this is not to say that nothing remains to be done. We were, for example, disappointed that little progress was achieved at the recent executive board session in which the board failed to deal adequately with proposals--including one to stop subsistence payments to board members and one relating to the size of board membership--which would lead to a more efficient and cost effective governing body.We are keeping the question of our return to UNESCO closely under review but as of yet have taken no decision.
Mr. Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) the United States of America Government, (b) other EU countries and (c) the Secretary-General of UNESCO about the renewal of Britain's membership of UNESCO.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: We have not had any discussions with the United States of America Government, other EU countries or with the Secretary- General of UNESCO about the renewal of Britain's membership of UNESCO. However, my officials, here and in Washington and Paris, are in regular contact with their US counterparts and those in Paris keep in touch with their EU counterparts on a regular basis. We are keeping the question of a return to UNESCO under close review. For the moment, however, we have taken no decision.
Murmansk Naval Base
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when British officials last visited the Murmansk naval base; under what auspices they were present; and from which Government agencies they were drawn.
| Next Section
| Home Page |